Hose clamp with load distributing member



June 25, 1968 c. c. TETZLAFF HOSE CLAMP WITH LOAD DISTRIBUTING MEMBERFiled May 13, 1966 IN l/EN TOR cz/erzce C L741? .Arron/vgrs UnitedStates Patent 3,389,442 HOSE CLAMP WITH LOAD DISTRIBUTING MEMBERClarence C. Tetzlaif, River Forest, 11]., assignor to WittekManufacturing (30., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of IllinoisContinuafion-in-part of application Ser. No. 447,014, Apr. 9, 1965. Thisapplication May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,980

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-278) The invention is a continuation-in-part of myapplication Ser. No. 447,014 filed Apr. 9, 1965.

This invention relates generally to hose clamps and more particularly isconcerned with a radial type of hose clamp having a fitted bridge and aload distributing member.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp with aload distributing member having spacing means in order to enable theproper location of the hose clamp relative to the pipe or spud uponwhich the hose is being secured.

It has been customary in the hose clamp art and especially in the caseof hose clamps intended for use with high pressure connections to securespacers to the hose clamp. The conventional hose clamp of any suitabletype will have lateral spacing extensions welded to the band of the hoseclamp. When the workman assembles a hose upon a spud or pipe, a suitablering on the pipe properly positions the hose so the hose clamp issecured with the extension member located at the same ring so that it isknown with certainty that the clamp will engage the spud immediatelyover annular ridges provided on the spud to resist withdrawal of thehose.

Attachment of such extension members by means of welding is expensive,time-consuming and wells are often subject to corrosion and breakagebefore use.

In the parent application of which this forms a continuation-in-part,there is disclosed a hose clamp of the radial type with a fitted bridgehaving a load-distributing member. The load-distributing member is madeseparately from the hose clamp and afterwards is secured thereto by thesimple expedient of bending end ears over onto the hose clamp band.Since the load distributing member is made separately and securedseparately it has been found that if a spacing extension is formedintegral with the load-distributing member there is no additionalexpense in assembling the hose clamp. The same mechanism used forsecuring the load-distributing member to the hose clamp may be used withor Without the spacing means. This gives rise to considerable saving.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide a hoseclamp of the character described having a load-distributing member inwhich spacing means are integrally formed with the load-distributingmember.

Other objects and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art asthe description of the invention proceeds in connection with the drawingwhich illustrates the preferred embodiment.

In the said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a radial hose clamp having aload-distributing member and spacing means integral with theload-distributing member in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the load-distributing member itself,apart from the hose clamp.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through a hose clamp constructed according tothe invention shown secured upon a hose which in turn is fastened to apipe or spud end.

Reference character 10 generally designates a radial type of hose clamphaving a metal band 12 looped upon itself to form a cylindricalconfiguration, the axis of such 3,389,442 Patented June 25, 1968configuration comprising the axis of the hose clamp. At thecircumferential location where the ends of the band 12 overlap there isradially outwardly extending rectangular projection 14 having a nut 16disposed therein, and having a perforation 18 radially through theprojection to enable a screw 20 to engage the nut. A bridge 22 fitted tothe hose clamp closes the inner open end of the projection 14 so thatthe cylindrical configuration is substantially continuous, the bridgehaving arms 24 engaging over the top of the band 12 on oppositecircumferential sides of the projection 14 and side flanges 26 retainingthe nut 16 by closing off the opposite axial sides of the projection 14.The bottom wall 28 of the hose clamp serves as a thrust bearing supportfor the end of the screw 20 so that as the screw is turned the nut 16will ride up and increase the radially outward dimension of theprojection 14 pulling the band through the arms 24 in a mannerWellknown.

In the copending application the load-distributing member 30 which isshown in FIG. 2 is described in some detail. This is a slidably securedarcuate strip of metal 32 having lugs 34 at opposite ends thereofengaging the band so that the load-distributing member 30 may be movedalong the band to conform to its curvature as the hose clamp is takenup. indentations 36 cooperate with the circumferential ends of thebridge 22 for positioning the load-distributing member.

According to the invention herein the load-distributing member 30 has anintegral lateral spacing leg 38 extending axially from an edge thereofwith a :right angle bent end 40. It will be appreciated that the hoseclamp 10 may be manufactured completely assembled in any manner which itwill be made irrespective of the inclusion of the spacing leg 38.Likewise the load-distributing member 30 may be secured by machineryoperating upon the ends thereof so that the lateral spacing leg 38 willnot interfere with this operation either. Thus it requires substantiallyno added expense to assemble hose clamp 10.

In forming the load-distributing member 30 it will be blanked in thefiat from sheet metal with, the integral leg 38 in the same fiat plane.When curved, the member 30 will lie in a cylindrical plane, and sincethe leg 30 is a very small part of the arc of the member 30, arcuatelyforming the same will be no problem. After forming the member 30, theleg 38 will lie in the cylindrical plane defined, but for the benthook-end 40.

In FIG. 3 a spud or pipe 42 is adapted to have a hose 44 telescopicallymounted thereon in pressure-tight connection. The wall thickness of thehose is substantial as noted and the pipe 42 has ridges 46 to bite intothe hose 44 to prevent it from being forced off the end of the pipe 42.The most efiicient connection will be one in which the hose clampconstricts the hose to enable the ridges to bite into the hose. Thethickness of the hose makes it diflicult to see where the ridges 46occur making it difficult accurately to locate them so that the hoseclamp 10 may be secured immediately over these: ridges. Accordingly itis customary for such pipes to have a hose-locating ring 48 so that onemay gauge the minimum amount of telescoping of the pipe within the hose44. Likewise the ring 48 enables one to gauge the proper distance forthe hose clamp from the end of the hose. Accordingly in using a hoseclamp with spacing means the depending end 40 is hooked around the endof the hose where it r abuts against the ring 48 thus achieving theproper spacing.

If desired, two or more such legs 38 may be provided integral with theload-distributing member. Another modification would be to have the legs38 longer than usual, with or without creases along the length thereof,enabling the user to trim and bend the end of the legs to fit any styleof pipe. FIG. 2 illustrates this symbolically by the broken lines 50.

Various modifications are capable of being made without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hose clamp of the radial type having a band looped upon itself, aradially outwardly formed projection, a nut in the projection, a radialscrew passing into the nut, a bridge permanently secured across theinner open end of the projection and the screw bearing on the bridge, anarcuate load-distributing member having its ends slidably mounted to theband to dispose said member beneath the bridge, and spacing meanscomprising at least one leg extending in an axial direction laterallyand substantially in the cylindrical plane of the load-distributingmember and integral therewith, the end of said leg having an angularlybent portion.

2. A hose clamp of the radial type having a band looped upon itself, aradially outwardly formed projection, a nut in the projection, a radialscrew passing into the nut, a bridge permanently secured across theinner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,011 9/1914 Schneider285252 X 2,208,706 7/1940 Spencer 28S253 2,321,930 6/1943 Murray 24-2782,392,210 1/1946 Zaleske 24278 2,515,484 7/1950 Zaleske 24278 2,963,30512/1960 Miller 285-253 X 3,086,270 4/1963 Zartler 24-278 DONALD A.GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

0 JAMES L. JONES, 111., Examiner.

2. A HOSE CLAMP OF THE RADIAL TYPE HAVING A BAND LOOPED UPON ITSELF, ARADIALLY OUTWARDLY FORMED PROJECTION, A NUT IN THE PROJECTION, A RADIALSCREW PASSING INTO THE NUT, A BRIDGE PERMANENTLY SECURED ACROSS THEINNER OPEN END OF THE PROJECTION AND THE SCREW BEARING ON THE BRIDGE, ANARCUATE LOAD-DISTRIBUTING MEMBER HAVING ITS ENDS SLIDABLY MOUNTED TO THEBAND TO DISPOSE SAID MEMBER BENEATH THE BRIDGE, SAID LOAD-DISTRIBUTINGMEMBER BEING COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM SAID BRIDGE, AND SPACING MEANSEXTENDING IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION LATERALLY OF AND INTEGRAL WITH THELOAD-DISTRIBUTING MEMBER.